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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2014 36 THIS WEEK Eclectic mix of creators at Malta Comic Con Incite Motion: beyond the studio Hobbit and A-Team stars headline Malta's first Comics and Pop Culture Expo Big-name creators, up-and-coming Maltese artists and comic book veterans headline the sixth edition of the Con this November Just in time for Halloween, the first edition of the Malta Comics and Pop Culture expo invites you to sit alongside Dirk Benedict (The A-Team) and Sylvester McCoy (Dr Who, The Hobbit) among others WICKED Comics have revealed that interna- tionally renowned creators Michael Dialynas (The Woods), and Lew Stringer (The Beano) as well as professional Maltese but currently London based creator Daniela 'iella' Attard (The Ugly Duckling) will be joining Yishan Li, Rufus Dayglo, Andrew Wildman, Guill- ermo Ortego, Steve Scott, Mickey Lam, Mike Collins, Cliodhna, Dave Taylor, Christian Ward, and John-Paul Kamath as guests for the Malta Comic Con (MCC) 2014. The sixth edition of this popular multi- media event will be held at St James Cavalier, Valletta on November 29 (10:00-18:00) and 30 (11:00-19:00). This year's conven- tion marks the second time renowned Greek creator Michael Dialy- nas visited the Malta Comic Con. Having made his first appear- ance last year, Dialynas also designed the Con's official poster. Saying that the team behind the Con is "de- lighted" to have Dialy- nas back, Wicked Com- ics co-founder Chris Le Galle was also keen to welcome Attard back to the convention, as the artist has since estab- lished herself in London, even landing a job with Cartoon Network Europe. "We're really proud of her accomplishments and for the pure inspiration she provides for her fellow Maltese creators and couldn't be happier to have her for this edition of the Con." Le Galle added that the presence of Lew Stringer will also be significant for Maltese audiences. "Around 30-40 years ago The Beano and The Dandy were amongst the few comics one could regularly purchase in Malta so a lot of people my age grew up on them. Conse- quently, we're really proud that Lew Stringer a contributor to both titles is visiting our shores." His announcement will certainly make a lot of Maltese folk happy. The presence of Dia- lynas, Iella and Stringer as well as that of the other guests has us all enthusiastically look- ing forward to the Malta Comic Con 2014 and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their participation and look forward to hosting them here" said Chris Le Galle co-founder of Wicked Comics. In his native tongue, Greek illustrator Michael Dialynas he has published a book by the name of Trinkets: An Attic full of Sto- ries, he has also drawn some stories featur- ing sword-wielding women: one being Ama- la's Blade with Steve Horton at Dark Horse and the other being Spera with Josh Tierney and other artists at Archaia. He then took a spin with Superior Spider-Man and Friends (Marvel) before starting a new ongoing se- ries which he is currently working on with writer James Tynion IV, The Woods (Boom! Studios). Working as a graphic designer and illustrator at Cartoon Network's European branch, Dan- iela 'Iella' Attard makes comics, video games, and illustrated good- ies in her spare time. Her work in comics include various contri- butions to the popular Pilot Comic Antholo- gies which are annually published in Malta by Audrienne Degiorgio and Fleur Sciortino, as well as Iella's comic interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic The Ugly Duck- ing. She is also working on a one-shot comic which is currently being kept under wraps but which will be available at the Malta Com- ic Con 2014. Lew Stringer has been freelancing as an artist and writer in British humour comics for over 30 years. Working for top companies such as IPC, Marvel UK, Egmont, and DC Thomson he has created characters for vari- ous age groups such as Combat Colin, Tom Thug, Pete and his Pimple, Derek the Troll, Brickman, The Suburban Satanists, The Dark Newt and many more. Lew's current work includes Ivy the Ter- rible and Rasher for The Beano, Team Toxic for Toxic magazine, and The Daft Dimension for Doctor Who Magazine. For more information log on to http://www. maltacomic-con.com INCITE Motion has seen five of its students receive further dance tuition overseas over the past six years; along with others receiv- ing local and international scholarships and awards. Last year saw students Leona Galea being accepted into the Kate Simmons vocational dance school for a three-year dance training course at professional level. This summer eight promising dance stu- dents who were all recipients of awards or scholarships attended dance courses over- seas, and in Gozo. Martina Casolani, aged 10, was awarded the Sharon Sapienza Award at LIVING DANCE 2013 for the most promising stu- dent. Martina attended an International one week course at the Royal Academy of Dance in the UK, where she was taught by top Fac- ulty members. Her course included classical ballet, group dance, creative dance, hip hop and mask making, as well as a theatre trip to watch Charlie and the Cholcate Factory in London's West End. Other 2013 Living Dance winners include Jill Mallia, Emma Goodwin & Julia Agius who were awarded a local Scholarship by the Living Dance faculty to attend this year's Living Dance. Two senior students – Francesca Ellul, re- cipient of the 'Lillian Attard Award' by Incite Motion, and Leanne Muscat Drago – who was the recipient of the 2012 Living Dance Award – attended World Dance Movement in Bari, and were taught by top choreogra- phers including Teddy Forance from So You Think You Can Dance and Shaping Sound. The dance convention included a perform- ance which was held in Honour of Silvio Oddi, famous dance partner of Lorella Cuc- carini who passed away recently. At the end of the performance Francesca was awarded a scholarship to attend a course at the Kledi Dance Academy in Rome. Kledi Kadiu, of Amici fame is the artist Director at Kledi Dance. Noelle Cauchi, recipient of the 'Sharon Sa- pienza Award' from Incite Motion for being the most promising student in the senior school, has just returned from an intensive dance course at Bird College, one if the UK's top performing arts colleges. Diana Gauci was awarded a full Living Dance scholarship by Incite Motion as most promising student in the Middle School. Other students who have been successful overseas include Nathaniel Ellul, who was awarded a three year scholarship at Bird Col- lege; Sarah Vella, who furthered her dance studies at Laban; Mariele Zammit who won SFIDA; Lisa Mifsud who attended Musical Theatre Course in Guilford and Valentina Azzopardi furthering her dance studies up to Masters level in the UK. The school, run by Astrid Gollcher and Christiane Borg Manché, endeavours to edu- cate dancers through creativity, appreciation and performance, providing a holistic dance education and thus developing versatile, cre- ative and individual dancers. Registrations to enrol for dance classes at Incite Motion are open on September 23 from 17:00-19:00 DEBUTING for Halloween weekend, the Malta Comics and Pop Culture expo will take place at the Mediterranean Conference Cen- tre, Valletta on October 31 and November 2. During the Expo, visitors will be able to at- tend panels or even meet up with known TV and film personalities. The guest line-up in- cludes Dirk Benedict ('Faceman' from The A- Team), Robert Picardo (The Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager) and Sylvester McCoy (the 7th Dr Who and Radagast the Brown from The Hobbit). Maltese-British actor Joseph Gatt will also be joining the fray. The voice behind Kratos in the popular video-game God of War, Gatt also starred in blockbusters like Thor and in the hit series Game of Thrones, will be part of the Expo, together with over 30 local and in- ternational writers, directors, artists ranging from Marvel, DC Comics and 2000AD. Taking place just in time for Halloween, the Expo will also be organising cosplay compe- titions, with rooms set up for tabletop gam- ing and video gaming. Professionals will also be on hand to offer advice to aspiring artists. These will range from comic book publishers to movie and TV studios, videogame compa- nies, and others. The event will also feature live performances from Colour Blind, Gianni, Cryptic Street, Scar and Jennifer Cihi will guarantee attendees a weekend to remember. For more information log on to www.malta- comicsexpo.com